The Complete Poetical Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge Volume II Part 68

_Octavio._ My son knows all.

_Cornet._ We have him.

_Octavio._ Whom?

_Cornet._ Sesina, The old negotiator.

_Octavio._ And you have him? 10

_Cornet._ In the Bohemian Forest Captain Mohrbrand Found and secured him yester morning early: He was proceeding then to Regenspurg, And on him were dispatches for the Swede.

_Octavio._ And the dispatches----

_Cornet._ The Lieutenant-General 15 Sent them that instant to Vienna, and The prisoner with them.

_Octavio._ This is, indeed, a tiding!

That fellow is a precious casket to us, Enclosing weighty things.--Was much found on him?

_Cornet._ I think, six packets, with Count Tertsky's arms. 20

_Octavio._ None in the Duke's own hand?

_Cornet._ Not that I know.

_Octavio._ And old Sesina?

_Cornet._ He was sorely frightened, When it was told him he must to Vienna.

But the Count Altringer bade him take heart, Would he but make a full and free confession. 25

_Octavio._ Is Altringer then with your Lord? I heard That he lay sick at Linz.

_Cornet._ These three days past He's with my master, the Lieutenant-General, At Frauenberg. Already have they sixty Small companies together, chosen men; 30 Respectfully they greet you with a.s.surances, That they are only waiting your commands.

_Octavio._ In a few days may great events take place.

And when must you return?

_Cornet._ I wait your orders.

_Octavio._ Remain till evening.

[Cornet _signifies his a.s.sent and obeisance, and is going._

_Octavio._ No one saw you--ha? 35

_Cornet._ No living creature. Through the cloister wicket The Capuchins, as usual, let me in.

_Octavio._ Go, rest your limbs, and keep yourself concealed.

I hold it probable, that yet ere evening I shall dispatch you. The development 40 Of this affair approaches: ere the day, That even now is dawning in the heaven, Ere this eventful day hath set, the lot That must decide our fortunes will be drawn. [_Exit_ Cornet.

LINENOTES:

[9] _Sesina_ 1800, 1828, 1829.

[Before 10] _Octavio (eagerly)._ 1800, 1828, 1829.

SCENE III

_OCTAVIO and MAX PICCOLOMINI._

_Octavio._ Well--and what now, son? All will soon be clear; For all, I'm certain, went through that Sesina.

_Max._ I will procure me light a shorter way.

Farewell.

_Octavio._ Where now?--Remain here.

_Max._ To the Duke. 5

_Octavio._ What----

_Max._ If thou hast believed that I shall act A part in this thy play---- Thou hast miscalculated on me grievously.

My way must be straight on. True with the tongue, 10 False with the heart--I may not, cannot be: Nor can I suffer that a man should trust me-- As his friend trust me--and then lull my conscience With such low pleas as these:--'I ask'd him not-- He did it all at his own hazard--and 15 My mouth has never lied to him.'--No, no!

What a friend takes me for, that I must be.

--I'll to the Duke; ere yet this day is ended Will I demand of him that he do save His good name from the world, and with one stride 20 Break through and rend this fine-spun web of yours.

He can, he will!--I still am his believer.

Yet I'll not pledge myself, but that those letters May furnish you, perchance, with proofs against him.

How far may not this Tertsky have proceeded-- 25 What may not he himself too have permitted Himself to do, to snare the enemy, The laws of war excusing? Nothing, save His own mouth shall convict him--nothing less!

And face to face will I go question him. 30

_Octavio._ Thou wilt?

_Max._ I will, as sure as this heart beats.

_Octavio._ I have, indeed, miscalculated on thee.

I calculated on a prudent son, Who would have blest the hand beneficent That plucked him back from the abyss--and lo! 35 A fascinated being I discover, Whom his two eyes befool, whom pa.s.sion wilders, Whom not the broadest light of noon can heal.

Go, question him!--Be mad enough, I pray thee.

The purpose of thy father, of thy Emperor, 40 Go, give it up free booty:--Force me, drive me To an open breach before the time. And now, Now that a miracle of heaven had guarded My secret purpose even to this hour, And laid to sleep Suspicion's piercing eyes, 45 Let me have lived to see that mine own son, With frantic enterprise, annihilates My toilsome labours and state-policy.

_Max._ Aye--this state-policy! O how I curse it!

You will some time, with your state-policy, 50 Compel him to the measure: it may happen, Because ye are determined that he is guilty, Guilty ye'll make him. All retreat cut off, You close up every outlet, hem him in Narrower and narrower, till at length ye force him-- 55 Yes, ye,--ye force him, in his desperation, To set fire to his prison. Father! Father!

That never can end well--it cannot--will not!

And let it be decided as it may, I see with boding heart the near approach 60 Of an ill-starred unblest catastrophe.

For this great Monarch-spirit, if he fall, Will drag a world into the ruin with him.

And as a s.h.i.+p (that midway on the ocean Takes fire) at once, and with a thunder-burst 65 Explodes, and with itself shoots out its crew In smoke and ruin betwixt sea and heaven; So will he, falling, draw down in his fall All us, who're fixed and mortised to his fortune.

Deem of it what thou wilt; but pardon me, 70 That I must bear me on in my own way.

All must remain pure betwixt him and me; And, ere the day-light dawns, it must be known Which I must lose--my father, or my friend.